A modification of the method for prestaining alpha and beta lipoproteins separated by paper electrophoresis.

HEN ONE EMPLOYS the classic method for staining lipoproteins after separation by paper electrophoresis (3, 4) one encounters difficulties in attempting to evaluate the alpha and beta bands. These problems are manifested in: 1. detection of alpha lipoprotein present, 2. problems of elution, and 3. the inability to scan strips on a photoelectric scanner. The disadvantage in using postelectrophoretic staining is that it not only stains the lipid bands, but also results in a high color background to all of the paper strip. Because of these inadequacies we decided to develop a prestaining technique that would clearly stain only the lipid material but would not affect the